Owen planning on fighting his way into Fergie's reckoning as 20th title beckons

Manchester United striker Michael Owen is aiming to hand manager Sir Alex Ferguson another selection dilemma in the Barclays Premier League title run-in.

Owen has been a virtual onlooker this season as United have roared to the brink of a record 20th title, one of the more longer-term absentees from a Red Devils squad that has been ravaged by injury.

But the 32-year-old is closing in on full fitness again after finally battling back from a thigh injury he sustained at the beginning of November.

Long time, no see: Michael Owen's injury problems have let him down

And whilst he knows, after making just a single appearance from the bench in the league this term, that his impact could only be a fleeting one, Owen intends to give Ferguson something to ponder.

'I have to get myself to a stage where I could be available for the last four or five matches,; Owen said.

'To a certain extent that would be my job done. If I am available, should we get an injury or need a goal in the last 10 minutes then I am there and the manager knows I have a track record that suggests I can do something.

'Whether I play or not is the manager's decision but I can get myself into that position.'

Manchester City's failure to beat Sunderland on Saturday, followed by United's 2-0 victory at Blackburn on Monday appears to have tilted the championship so far in Old Trafford's direction it cannot be clawed back.

Certainly the respective run-ins indicate the derby on April 30 that everyone has claimed would be pivotal for so long now looks like being City's only hope of staying in the race, with the nightmare scenario for the Blues of United winning the league that day beginning to look a possibility.

And for that, Owen believes the Red Devils' most experienced players deserve credit for guiding the club through their tricky run of fixtures from late January to early March.

'The lads have done fantastically well,' he said. 'We have got players and a manager who have done it many times before.

'People like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand have almost done it in their sleep. That is reassuring for everyone. It is one of our biggest advantages.'

Owen was speaking at his Manor House Stables complex in Cheshire, where he launched a three-year partnership with Hale-based Trinity Elite - a lifestyle-driven tax, accounting and wealth management specialist.

His interest in the racing game is well known and the success of his yard under the guidance of resident trainer Tom Dascombe has been such that his influence on the industry seems certain to grow.

However, Owen remains committed to his footballing career, which is why this season has been particularly difficult.

'The nightmare is going into training every day, everyone seeing you, asking how you are getting on and how far you are off, then you toddle off into the gym and they toddle off the other way to train,' he said.

'It is hard. You feel as if you are not playing any part.

Threat: When Owen plays he can be dangerous - he just needs to stay fit

'I have played hundreds of games at the top level - England, Champions League, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United. I have been there and done it. But you want it all the time.

'Not being involved for most of this season has left me hurting inside.

'And this where you get itchy feet. You can see it. You can virtually go out there and train with them.'

United have enjoyed such success in guiding Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand through worrying injury problems it is easy to think they could do the same with Owen.

Now in the final weeks of his contract at Old Trafford, it seems hard to imagine England's fourth-highest goalscorer will get another one.

That may work in Owen's favour because there is a fundamental reason why the same techniques cannot be applied to him that have worked so well with his team-mates.

'I could guide my way through it but the difference between me and Rio is that I don't play for large periods of time,' Owen said.

'I will play 90 minutes in a Carling Cup game and then I play for 10 minutes in six weeks. There is no pattern to it.

'It is what I bought into so there are no complaints, but it is more difficult.'